SCHOONER CHANCE 43 



the easier to bear. I am convinced that the fresh water which flows 

 out fast on the surface is not suitable for small fish. The fjord ten 

 feet down is crowded with all kinds of life but the surface and the 

 beaches seem absolutely deserted. There is no sea-weed or algae on 

 the rocks, I suppose for the same reason. 



Terry and I again towed the plankton nets with the "Evinrude" 

 and again got rich hauls except from the surface. We attempted 

 to sort some of the stuff and preserve it in alcohol but it does not 

 keep any better. The jelly fish go to pieces much quicker. 



Bob and Woody trolled about the mouth of the river, still in the 

 rain, and caught four nice trout. 



At seven the shore party appeared and they were a wet bunch. 

 When the skiff went in for them they did not wait until it reached 

 the bank but just walked out up to their waist to meet it. Oily and 

 John had walked the legs off poor little Johnny in order to get back 

 in time. His pack was too heavy and hung way down. Oily was 

 lugging a 12 lb. trout which John had jigged on the spawning beds 

 about 12 miles up stream. They reported that the valley of the fjord 

 continued for over 20 miles. Caribou tracks ran up and down the 

 stream but they did not see any. The fish refused to rise to any fly 

 at all. John thinks that there are no Rizs about for them to eat. He 

 also thinks that the river dries up in winter and cannot therefore be 

 used by salmon. The trout spawn and go down stream the same 

 autumn. All the way up the valley, every 500 yards, little brooks 

 come in from each side. These carry the water from the melting 

 snow on the hills. As they saw no paar at all, there can be no salmon. 

 During the night it snowed on the cliffs above us. 



